I was in Peace Corps in Erfoud from about October 2005 to July 2006. Brahim's brother was my host dad in erfoud. I didn't work specifically work at the Prep Lab, but I lived there for 3 months. So yeah, only you and I really know what were talking about. When were you there?
@roamen83 Definitely were there at the same time. I was in Morocco from October - November in 05 filming this and some other clips I put up here while working. Small world.
Even smaller if you consider that at the time I was also living in San Jose...
ajmiller82 Thanks for the info but I all ready knew all about this ,there are several books at the local Library that tell you everything .I also have cut through trilobites from Morocco only to find it filled with a plaster type material ,and like you said they even put several trilobites onto a large rock and they are either glued or plastered into place it is a crying shame people have to sell fakes to the unsuspecting buyers shame on them all .
@phacops1111 I dont mean to offend but I firmly believe that unless you get out there and experience it for yourself, there is nearly no way to distinguish what work is done, most "dealers" don't know what they are buying in the first place. I've sat and even explained techniques used to prep guys, who are willing to listen, much of which you'll never find in the book your referencing or the popular "fake Moroccan fossils" pdf floating the internet...
i see someone deleted my comment... you assholes are scared of the truth. you look like dicks for calling someones work fake when you really have no idea. these fossils are real.
@roamen83 yeah welcome to smallmindedness. Fossilprep is just some kid somwhere learning all the worlds generalizations one at a time and like many fools, has blind faith in them. God forbid he even go to Erfoud to the museum and see the work they are doing there. I am sure Brahim would have a few choice words...
Roamen, when did you work there? maybe we crossed paths.
I've worked on many-a-trilobite specimen as a preparator, and believe me when I say these are certainly fake; there is no evidence of fossil material on the "snouted-trilobite" plate, and the moroccan "preparator" is spreading a black resin substance, known as "fossil tar" informally, on trilobite. I've removed this substance from moroccan trilobites before, only to find absolutely nothing underneath; this is on EVERY SINGLE ONE. It's quite a shame that they are doing this.
All the fossils you see are real. I know this for a fact b/c I lived in this place with the guys you see in the video for 3 months. They are master artisans and are one the big exporters of fossils to the US. Theyre also really cool guys.
But - here's the problem. The biggest exporters of trilobites in North Africa are exporting fakes. Many-an-institution have learned to halt purchasing specimens from Morocco, for an estimated 95% of the total fossils exported per year are fakes, while the remaining 5% are partially real, with artificial restorations and extensions. We're not seeing methods of preparation, rather, methods of restoration. Full restoration; ergo; fakes.
@fossilpreparator Most of the fakes get out into the US market when cheap buyers come from all over to Tucson and see a real trilobite for around $80-200 and a fake they can sell as real for $5... the disconnect is usually with the retailer here in the US. Ask any of the Moroccans in Tucson when you are buying and they will tell you, sure some are not as honest as others, but that's life.
Cut a trilobite in half if you dare because you will find that they are fake the inside section of the fossil if filled with cement etc .Did you ever see them actually find the trilobites that they are supposedly preparing.
Have you cut the trilobites that are in this video in half?! You're looking at video and generalizing to every piece in this factory. Yes i have worked on trilobites in this factory, and have on occasion f-ed them up and chipped away parts and have seen that the inside is real. I've worked on these fossils when they arrived almost completely encased in rock and have drilled away. U all should go, you'll learn something. W.out evidence, ur disrespecting hard working people.
@phacops111 Learn how preparation works... then make a comment,
When they make a cast, its a rock shelled out a bit, and they fill it with a mold, the process takes all of ten minutes. no air compressors, drills, needed, just bondo/cement and shoe polish or ask/lacquer coating.
Why would trilobites be hindered by 'snouts' from an evolutionary standpoint. The trilobites were a large and diverse group, some free-swimming, others benthic. The benthic ones would benefit from large protrusions, and wouldn't be aquadynamically constrained. Am I missing something? Any other strong evidence that these aren't real? thanks.
looks like they are trying to make fake fossils, also a little bit strange that the trilobite guy sit's on all the fossils, would make more sense to stay of it and make a risk of damage to a minimum... but if these fossils are real, then they are really nice pieces!
I was in Peace Corps in Erfoud from about October 2005 to July 2006. Brahim's brother was my host dad in erfoud. I didn't work specifically work at the Prep Lab, but I lived there for 3 months. So yeah, only you and I really know what were talking about. When were you there?
roamen83 1 year ago
@roamen83 Definitely were there at the same time. I was in Morocco from October - November in 05 filming this and some other clips I put up here while working. Small world.
Even smaller if you consider that at the time I was also living in San Jose...
ajmiller82 1 year ago
ajmiller82 Thanks for the info but I all ready knew all about this ,there are several books at the local Library that tell you everything .I also have cut through trilobites from Morocco only to find it filled with a plaster type material ,and like you said they even put several trilobites onto a large rock and they are either glued or plastered into place it is a crying shame people have to sell fakes to the unsuspecting buyers shame on them all .
phacops1111 1 year ago
@phacops1111 I dont mean to offend but I firmly believe that unless you get out there and experience it for yourself, there is nearly no way to distinguish what work is done, most "dealers" don't know what they are buying in the first place. I've sat and even explained techniques used to prep guys, who are willing to listen, much of which you'll never find in the book your referencing or the popular "fake Moroccan fossils" pdf floating the internet...
ajmiller82 1 year ago
i see someone deleted my comment... you assholes are scared of the truth. you look like dicks for calling someones work fake when you really have no idea. these fossils are real.
roamen83 2 years ago
@roamen83 yeah welcome to smallmindedness. Fossilprep is just some kid somwhere learning all the worlds generalizations one at a time and like many fools, has blind faith in them. God forbid he even go to Erfoud to the museum and see the work they are doing there. I am sure Brahim would have a few choice words...
Roamen, when did you work there? maybe we crossed paths.
ajmiller82 1 year ago
Does anyone know where the volcanic crater near Erfoud is? There is also an ancient wall near it.
jameswolney 2 years ago
I've worked on many-a-trilobite specimen as a preparator, and believe me when I say these are certainly fake; there is no evidence of fossil material on the "snouted-trilobite" plate, and the moroccan "preparator" is spreading a black resin substance, known as "fossil tar" informally, on trilobite. I've removed this substance from moroccan trilobites before, only to find absolutely nothing underneath; this is on EVERY SINGLE ONE. It's quite a shame that they are doing this.
fossilpreparator 2 years ago
All the fossils you see are real. I know this for a fact b/c I lived in this place with the guys you see in the video for 3 months. They are master artisans and are one the big exporters of fossils to the US. Theyre also really cool guys.
roamen83 2 years ago
But - here's the problem. The biggest exporters of trilobites in North Africa are exporting fakes. Many-an-institution have learned to halt purchasing specimens from Morocco, for an estimated 95% of the total fossils exported per year are fakes, while the remaining 5% are partially real, with artificial restorations and extensions. We're not seeing methods of preparation, rather, methods of restoration. Full restoration; ergo; fakes.
fossilpreparator 2 years ago
@fossilpreparator Most of the fakes get out into the US market when cheap buyers come from all over to Tucson and see a real trilobite for around $80-200 and a fake they can sell as real for $5... the disconnect is usually with the retailer here in the US. Ask any of the Moroccans in Tucson when you are buying and they will tell you, sure some are not as honest as others, but that's life.
ajmiller82 1 year ago
Cut a trilobite in half if you dare because you will find that they are fake the inside section of the fossil if filled with cement etc .Did you ever see them actually find the trilobites that they are supposedly preparing.
phacops111 2 years ago
Have you cut the trilobites that are in this video in half?! You're looking at video and generalizing to every piece in this factory. Yes i have worked on trilobites in this factory, and have on occasion f-ed them up and chipped away parts and have seen that the inside is real. I've worked on these fossils when they arrived almost completely encased in rock and have drilled away. U all should go, you'll learn something. W.out evidence, ur disrespecting hard working people.
roamen83 2 years ago
@phacops111 Learn how preparation works... then make a comment,
When they make a cast, its a rock shelled out a bit, and they fill it with a mold, the process takes all of ten minutes. no air compressors, drills, needed, just bondo/cement and shoe polish or ask/lacquer coating.
ajmiller82 1 year ago
Why would trilobites be hindered by 'snouts' from an evolutionary standpoint. The trilobites were a large and diverse group, some free-swimming, others benthic. The benthic ones would benefit from large protrusions, and wouldn't be aquadynamically constrained. Am I missing something? Any other strong evidence that these aren't real? thanks.
rrritalin 2 years ago
@rrritalin those are crinoid specimens
ajmiller82 1 year ago
wish i had tool like that
joemcc1 3 years ago
looks like they are trying to make fake fossils, also a little bit strange that the trilobite guy sit's on all the fossils, would make more sense to stay of it and make a risk of damage to a minimum... but if these fossils are real, then they are really nice pieces!
SaLoMuN 3 years ago
que bonitoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
amingosons 4 years ago
si es bonito pero es muy duro trabajar algo asi quizas un dia puedes venir y ver el trabajo como se realiza te doy mas xplicaciones si me conectas
mustaziz 4 years ago
yeah, whatever he said man!
mondoo99 2 years ago